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Hill optioned to Triple-A Memphis

Hill optioned to Triple-A Memphis

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Steven Hill

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ST. LOUIS -- Backup catcher Steven Hill was the odd man out on Sunday when the Cardinals needed to open a roster spot for pitcher Joe Kelly. Despite being optioned to Triple-A Memphis, Hill has left a good impression on manager Mike Matheny.

"It's never news you want to here," Matheny said. "He's done a nice job. I thought he came in this spring with a different outlook, a different perspective on the game because he's always just kind of been a very offensive-minded player because he can hit. Everywhere he goes, it's odd how often he finds the barrel of the bat. He was doing a nice job in Memphis. But he came in this spring and worked hard at catching and was very conscientious. It was a different demeanor about going about his work and we all noticed that. He got rewarded with an opportunity to come up. We didn't get to use him much, but it was still a step in the right direction for him career-wise."

Hill appeared in one game for St. Louis during the 2010 season, hitting a home run in his three at-bats, but didn't see any action in 2011.

In six games this season as the Cardinals' third catcher behind Yadier Molina and Tony Cruz, Hill had one hit (a double) in seven at-bats for a .143 average.